Early on, Spaniard Gabriel Escarrer bought into the vision of the development of the Punta Cana destination and built one of the first resorts – the Melia Punta Cana.
He is mourned in the Dominican Republic as one of the founders of the leading Caribbean destination. The family announced Escarrer’s passing on 26 November. He was 89 years old. His son Gabriel Escarrer Jaume continues as chairman and CEO of Meliá.
The Melia Punta Cana opened in 1991, following the opening of the Club Med Punta Cana and Barceló Bávaro resorts. From day one, the Melia Punta Cana offered a quality vacation experience mainly marketed to Europeans.
The Meliá Punta Cana was the first Meliá hotel to open in the Caribbean. In the Dominican Republic, Meliá would go on to open the Paradisus resort and Palma Real residential community and shopping area. In 2022, the chain opened the newly branded Falcon Resorts by Meliá.
12 December 2024 is the opening date for the Zel Punta Cana, created by Meliá Hotels International in partnership with Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal.
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The Majorca Daily Bulletin
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
3 December 2024